What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
On September 2, 2018 N575DG, an amateur built S-18 thorp was taking off runway 30 at the Porterville municipal airport (kptv), when the pilot lost control of the aircraft. During his third take-off, the tail wheel aircraft accelerated to 45 knots, when at that time, the tail wheel came up, and the aircraft continued to accelerate. Once the aircraft accelerated to 60 knots the aircraft suddenly made a sharp left turn off the runway. The pilot attempted to correct the sudden loss of control; however, nothing he did appeared to work. Because the power was not reduced, the aircraft became airborne for approximately 832FT prior to it making ground contact and flipping the aircraft upside down. The injuries sustained by the pilot were minor.
Note: investigation of the aircraft wreckage indicated no mechanical abnormalities. All flight controls and brakes appear to be working.
As the FAA filed it
ON SEPTEMBER 2, 2018 N575DG, AN AMATEUR BUILT S-18 THORP WAS TAKING OFF RUNWAY 30 AT THE PORTERVILLE MUNICIPAL AIRPORT (KPTV), WHEN THE PILOT LOST CONTROL OF THE AIRCRAFT. DURING HIS THIRD TAKE-OFF, THE TAIL WHEEL AIRCRAFT ACCELERATED TO 45 KNOTS, WHEN AT THAT TIME, THE TAIL WHEEL CAME UP, AND THE AIRCRAFT CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE. ONCE THE AIRCRAFT ACCELERATED TO 60 KNOTS THE AIRCRAFT SUDDENLY MADE A SHARP LEFT TURN OFF THE RUNWAY. THE PILOT ATTEMPTED TO CORRECT THE SUDDEN LOSS OF CONTROL; HOWEVER, NOTHING HE DID APPEARED TO WORK. BECAUSE THE POWER WAS NOT REDUCED, THE AIRCRAFT BECAME AIRBORNE FOR APPROXIMATELY 832FT PRIOR TO IT MAKING GROUND CONTACT AND FLIPPING THE AIRCRAFT UPSIDE DOWN. THE INJURIES SUSTAINED BY THE PILOT WERE MINOR.
NOTE: INVESTIGATION OF THE AIRCRAFT WRECKAGE INDICATED NO MECHANICAL ABNORMALITIES. ALL FLIGHT CONTROLS AND BRAKES APPEAR TO BE WORKING.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.